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Accommodation and Works Select Committee

Answer

Sir Patrick Cormack: To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee what arrangements have been made for the siting of the statue of the right hon. Baroness Thatcher commissioned by the Speaker's Advisory Committee on Works of Art. [34501] Derek Conway: I am pleased to announce that in the short term the statue of the right hon. the Baroness Thatcher will be loaned to the Corporation of London for display at the Guildhall. Work is under way to identify a suitable site in the Guildhall complex. In the longer term, the statue will be displayed in the Palace of Westminster. Hon. Members will wish to know that Mr. Speaker has amended the "10-year rule", governing the display of representations of politicians in the main building of the Palace. A portrait, bust or statue of a politician other than a Prime Minister may be displayed once 10 years have passed after their death. A portrait, bust or statue of a former Prime Minister may now be displayed either once five years have passed after their death, or after the elapse of three Parliaments (with the proviso that this should be a minimum of 12 years) after they have left this House, whichever of these events comes first. There remain no restrictions on the siting of representations of living politicians in the outbuildings of the Palace. The Accommodation and Works Committee will make a recommendation to Mr. Speaker on the siting of the statue at an appropriate time.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

34501; 379 c1014-5W;379 c1009-10W

Session

2001-02

Subjects

Artworks Location Public statues Former prime ministers Thatcher, Baroness

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk